Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, shika maneno yangu na kuzihifadhi amri zangu ndani yako.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Shika amri zangu nawe utaishi; linda mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho lako.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my teaching, as the apple of thine eye.
3 Yafunge katika vidole vyako; yaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “Wewe ni dada yangu,” uite ufahamu jamaa yako;
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister, and call intelligence [thy] kinswoman:
5 watakuepusha na mwanamke mzinzi, kutokana na mwanamke mpotovu na maneno yake ya kubembeleza.
that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words.
6 Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
For at the window of my house, I looked forth through my lattice,
7 Niliona miongoni mwa wajinga, nikagundua miongoni mwa wanaume vijana, kijana asiye na akili.
and I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the sons, a young man void of understanding,
8 Alikuwa akishuka njiani karibu na pembe ya kwake, akielekea kwenye nyumba ya huyo mwanamke
passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 wakati wa machweo, jua likipungua nuru yake, giza la usiku lilipokuwa likiingia.
in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the blackness of night and the darkness.
10 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki, hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
And behold, there met him a woman in the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 (Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi, miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
She is clamorous and unmanageable; her feet abide not in her house:
12 mara kwenye barabara za mji, mara kwenye viwanja vikubwa, kwenye kila pembe huvizia.)
now without, now in the broadways, — and she lieth in wait at every corner.
13 Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu, na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
And she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 “Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani; leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows:
15 Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki; nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
therefore came I forth to meet thee, to seek earnestly thy face, and I have found thee.
16 Nimetandika kitanda changu kwa kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have decked my bed with tapestry coverlets of variegated linen from Egypt;
17 Nimetia manukato kitanda changu kwa manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I have perfumed my couch with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tuzame katika mapenzi mpaka asubuhi; tujifurahishe wenyewe kwa mapenzi!
Come, let us revel in love until the morning, let us delight ourselves with loves.
19 Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
20 Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
he hath taken the money-bag with him, he will come home on the day of the full moon.
21 Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha; alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
With her much enticement she beguiled him; with the smoothness of her lips she constrained him.
22 Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke kama fahali aendaye machinjoni, kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
He went after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as stocks [serve] for the correction of the fool;
23 mpaka mshale umchome ini lake, kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego, bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
till an arrow strike through his liver: as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for its life.
24 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; sikilizeni kwa makini nisemalo.
And now, ye sons, hearken unto me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Usiruhusu moyo wako ugeukie njia za huyo mwanamke, wala usitangetange katika mapito yake.
Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths:
26 Aliowaangusha ni wengi; aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.
